Wokingham Dementia Support: A Helpful List of Contacts
If you are looking for a handy list of Wokingham dementia support, charities, and local associations, this is your list! Feel free to bookmark it.
Wokingham Dementia Support: UK Government allowance and benefits
The UK government’s website has several helpful guides, including Attendance Allowance and Carer’s Allowance links.
Attendance Allowance is a benefit top-up for anyone with a disability or long-term condition. Its aim is to supplement care costs. However, how much and whether you are eligible is entirely discretionary.
Carer’s Allowance was created to benefit those caring for someone over 35 hours per week. Its aim is to supplement any income loss during unpaid care activities. If you care for both parents, you should note that your Carer’s Allowance does not increase based on the number of people you attend during those care hours.
The Department of Work and Pensions will assist you further in claiming one or both of these benefits and any council tax reductions or subsidies.
Other helpful guides on the website include:
If you need more help with the cost of care, scroll down to our local contacts section for support from your local authority.
Wokingham Dementia Support: National Support Groups and Charities
Dementia support groups and charities are always helpful to have in your book of contacts. Here are the ones we recommend:
Alzheimer’s Research UK
They provide a wealth of information to help you make sense of a diagnosis.
Alzheimer’s Society
A charity designed to help you share your story and connect with local people and resources.
Carers UK
Our go-to recommendation for expert advice for unpaid carers.
DEEP
This charity connects over 80 local groups for people living with dementia across the country.
Dementia Adventure
Holidays for those living with dementia with support teams in place when you need them.
Dementia Help
A digital magazine for dementia carers.
Dementia UK
A nursing charity specialising in dementia care, advice and support.
MedicAlert Safe and Found Programme
A charity organisation that offers medical ID services and personal devices to help trace and identify missing persons with dementia.
NHS Information
Alzheimer’s disease:www.nhs.uk/conditions/alzheimers-disease
Dementia symptoms and diagnosis:www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia/symptoms-and-diagnosis
Dementia with Lewy bodies:www.nhs.uk/conditions/dementia-with-lewy-bodies
Frontotemporal dementia:www.nhs.uk/conditions/frontotemporal-dementia
Vascular dementia:www.nhs.uk/conditions/vascular-dementia
Play List for Life
Low-cost music streaming provision for loved ones with dementia. This service allows you to create personalised playlists that can be accessed anytime, anywhere.
Rare Dementia Support
If your loved one is diagnosed with a rare form of dementia, this charity can help provide information and support.
Young Dementia Network
A charity explicitly aimed at supporting younger people with a dementia diagnosis and their families.
Wokingham Dementia Support: Local Support Contacts
For more localised dementia care and support, please consult the following:
Dementia Friendly Wokingham
A collaboration project between Understanding Dementia, Age UK Berkshire and The Link Visiting Scheme, with support from Wokingham Borough Council. The aim is to provide localised support and advice.
www.dementiafriendlywokingham.co.uk
Wokingham Borough Council
The Wokingham Borough Council website has several helpful links:
- Local Authority support services and assistance (including blue badges, meals on wheels, etc.)
- Needs assistance with a means test for care funding support (essential for attendance allowance and carer’s allowance)
- Assistance for adapting your home to a dementia-friendly environment
You should also be able to findadvice on their website for blue driving badges, meals on wheels, occupational therapy, and more.
Wokingham Dementia Care: Specialist Home Care Providers
Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham
When you need more help at home, we can offer specialist dementia care services from our Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham Office. Our services can include any or all of the following:
- Domicilary and personal care
- Home care
- Live-in Care
- Condition-led dementia care based on the diagnosis and prognosis
- Palliative care
We also provide companionship and crucial social interaction, culminating in a more effective and holistic approach to dementia care in the area. Our ethos is to allow your loved one to remain healthy and happy in the home they love.
You can call us for a free, no-obligation home visit at 01276 903106
Meet Jean, a Home Instead Wokingham Client
When Jean’s family first contacted our team at Home Instead Ascot, Camberley and Wokingham, they were very hopeful that we might be able to step in. Jean was living with advanced dementia, and had been progressively more distressed and confused whenever unfamiliar faces entered her home.
Her story mirrors that of many families navigating the complexities of dementia care. Her advanced condition meant that each new face was perceived as a threat, triggering huge anxiety that manifested in pacing, shouting, and profound distress. For someone with dementia, this feeling of being unsafe in familiar surroundings is one of the most distressing aspects of the condition—both for the individual and their loved ones.
Consistency Creates Comfort
Our team always prioritises consistency and relationship-building. This was especially crucial in Jean’s case who started receiving support from three of our care professionals: Lora, Lorrie, and Michelle. This wasn’t just about providing care—it was about creating familiarity in a world that had become increasingly confusing for Jean. The change was quite remarkable; these days, Jean can actually calmly sit in her kitchen, watching the birds outside her window and humming to herself, and she enjoys supported trips to the garden centre. Lora, Lorrie, and Michelle are now considered more as dear friends than care professionals. Last but not least, it is apparent that she now feels safer in her own home.
Supporting Your Loved One’s Journey
If Jean’s story resonates with your family’s experience, you’re not alone. Many families face similar challenges when dementia enters their lives. The key is finding care that goes beyond basic assistance to truly understand and respond to your loved one’s unique needs. And this is what we do every day.
How can you work with Home Instead Wokingham?
To get started with Home Instead, simply reach out to us by
calling 01276 903106
or emailing [email protected]
Our friendly Care Managers are here to assist with any inquiries you may have.
After you contact us, we’ll arrange a no-obligation home visit at a time that suits you. This visit will allow you to meet our dedicated team and learn about our approach to care. During this time, we’ll perform a complimentary falls assessment to identify any potential hazards in your home. You will receive a detailed report filled with valuable information and suggestions to help ensure the safety of your loved one as they navigate their dementia journey.
This home visit also presents an excellent opportunity for us to discuss your unique care requirements and craft a tailored personalised care plan. We believe that your input is crucial in this process because it allows you to shape the services we provide.
Finally, we will coordinate a follow-up meeting to introduce you to your Care Professionals. This introductory session is designed to build a rapport among caregivers, your loved one, and you, the family, facilitating a smooth home-care transition for everyone.
Wokingham Dementia Support: Social Groups, Clubs and Memory Cafes
If you want something more social and activity-based, check out these Wokingham dementia support listings.
Memory Lane Singing Cafe
It is a mix of singing well-known songs together, led by one of Berkshire Maestros or Berkshire Music Trust’s wonderful singing leaders, followed by 45 minutes of coffee, tea, biscuits and chat with the group. Each session costs £2.50 and booking is essential. Please pre book through Age UK and to find out when the next dates are by emailing: [email protected]
Time: Certain Fridays once a month, 10:30am to 12:00 pm
Location: The Cornerstone, Norreys Avenue, Wokingham, RG40 1UE
Wokingham Methodist Church Alzheimer’s Cafe
The cafe is for anyone with dementia or memory problems and their carers. It offers refreshments, chat, friendship, singing, music, stories, gentle sports and sharing. It is free to attend and there is no need to book. Please call (0118 977 6898) or email ([email protected]) to check exact dates.
Time: Every other Wednesday, 2:00 to 3:30 pm during term time
Location: The Bradbury Centre, Wokingham Methodist Church, Rose Street, Wokingham, RG40 1XS
Dementia Cafe @ St Sebastian’s Parish Hall
People with dementia with their friends, family and carers are all welcome to join for a refreshment and activity. Each session costs £2.50. Please call (07759 124067) or email ([email protected]) to check exact dates.
Time: Different days, 1:00 to 2:30 pm
Location: St Sebastian’s Church, Nine Mile Ride, Wokingham, RG40 3AT
Link Thursdays
This dementia-friendly project was set up with the aim of providing a welcoming space for anyone local who is feeling lonely and isolated. Everybody can participate in an array of activities and refreshments and cakes are available to all.
Time: Every Thursday, 10:00 am to 2:00 pm
Location: All Saints Church, London Road, Wokingham, RG40 1TN
Miriam Grace Day Club
The Club offers its members, living with mild to moderate memory care needs, a place to relax and socialise. There is a wide variety of activities available including poetry recitals, golf outings, creative workshops, keep fit classes and so on. The Centre is open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Thursday. Call 0118 229 2739 for more information. The Centre’s address is: High Copse Pavilion, High Copse, Shinfield, Wokingham, RG2 9XY.
Wade Day Care Centre
WADE is a local charity offering support to anyone over sixty in Wokingham and the surrounding areas. It offers a warm and friendly environment to mix and socialise, have lunch and participate in dementia-friendly activities. Through the charity, the Centre is able to offer subsidised day care. The Centre is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank and public holidays). Currently, a few places are available. Call 0118 978 7025 for more information. The Centre’s address is: 40 Reading Road, Wokingham, RG41 1EH.